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Pine-Thomas Productions
Pine-Thomas Productions was a prolific B-picture unit of Paramount Pictures from 1940–1957, producing 81 films. Co-producers William H. Pine (February 15, 1896 – April 29, 1955) and William C. Thomas (August 11, 1903 – April 2, 1984) were known as the "Dollar Bills" because none of their economically made films ever lost money. "We don't want to make million dollar pictures," they said. "We just want to make a million dollars."William Paine, Filmmaker New York Times 30 Apr 1955: 17. History William Pine and William Thomas William Pine was a graduate of Columbia University who went to work as a publicist at Paramount in 1933 becoming head of publicity. He became an associate director for Cecil B. De Mille at the studio and worked on several films. William Thomas was also a publicist who was working at Paramount producing "B" movies. Pine and Thomas struck up a partnership and swapped theories about how films could be produced for lower budgets. First Three Films: Picture Cor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
B-picture
A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double feature (akin to B-sides for recorded music). However, the U.S. production of films intended as second features largely ceased by the end of the 1950s. With the emergence of commercial television at that time, film studio B movie production departments changed into television film production divisions. They created much of the same type of content in low budget films and series. The term ''B movie'' continues to be used in its broader sense to this day. In its post-Golden Age usage, B movies can range from lurid exploitation films to independent arthouse films. In either usage, most B movies represent a particular genre—the Western was a Golden Age B movie staple, while low-budget science-fiction and horror films became more popular in the 19 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Torpedo Boat (film)
''Torpedo Boat '' is a 1942 American drama film from Pine-Thomas Productions directed by John Rawlins, written by Maxwell Shane, and starring Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, Mary Carlisle, Phillip Terry, Dick Purcell and Ralph Sanford. It was released on January 24, 1942, by Paramount Pictures. Plot Cast *Richard Arlen as Skinner Barnes *Jean Parker as Grace Holman *Mary Carlisle as Jane Townsend *Phillip Terry as Tommy Whelan *Dick Purcell as Ralph Andrews *Ralph Sanford as Hector Bobry *Oscar O'Shea as Captain Mike *Robert Middlemass as Mr. Townsend *Warren Hymer as Marine *William Haade as Big Sweeney, Riveter *Virginia Sale as Mrs. Sweeney Production The film was based on an original story by Alex Gottlieb. Pine-Thomas Productions bought it in May 1941 and assigned Richard Arlen to star. Filming started October 1941. Arlen had made three films for Pine-Thomas, who then signed a new three-film contract with the actor; this was the first movie under that contract and the firs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Minesweeper (film)
''Minesweeper'' is a 1943 American black-and-white World War II film, produced by William H. Pine and William C. Thomas, directed by William A. Berke, that stars Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, and Russell Hayden. The film was distributed by Paramount Pictures. A former navy deserter returns to duty after the attack on Pearl Harbor under an assumed name as a sailor aboard a minesweeper. Plot LT. Richard Houston (Richard Arlen) is an officer in the U.S. Navy who deserted during peacetime service to escape gambling debts, and took up life as a hobo. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor spurs him to rejoin the Navy under the assumed name of Jim "Tennessee" Smith. Houston is assigned to serve aboard a minesweeper, where he carries out numerous successful efforts to defuse mines in the San Diego harbor while struggling to keep his identity secret. Complicating matters, Houston gets involved in a love triangle, competing with Seaman Elliot Nash ( Russell Hayden) for the affections ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Submarine Alert
''Submarine Alert'' is a 1943 American film directed by Frank McDonald, produced by Pine-Thomas Productions and released by Paramount Pictures. The film stars Richard Arlen, Wendy Barrie, Nils Asther, Roger Pryor, Marc Lawrence and Ralph Sanford. Plot During World War II, with shipping being sunk by submarines and with an American scientist working on radio technology killed by Nazi spies, FBI agent G. B. Fleming (Roger Pryor) comes up with a plan to catch the Nazis. He believes that radio signals are alerting the Germans about ship movements. His plan is to fire all the local radio specialists, who likely will seek any employment, including working with the enemy. Tailing the jobless radio men will help the FBI find the Nazis. Engineer Lewis J. "Lew" Deerhold (Richard Arlen) thinks he lost his job because he is a Canadian citizen. Lew looks after his niece Tina (Patsy Nash), a war orphan requiring a brain operation. Needing money, he applies for work at a radio repair shop, whe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alaska Highway (film)
''Alaska Highway'' is a 1943 American drama film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, and Ralph Sanford. Plot In February 1942 a road construction gang working in Northern California are summoned to a meeting. The boss of the gang, Pop Ormsby, has been commissioned as a Major in the US Army Corps of Engineers and signs up the entire crew with his two sons, Woody and Steve, gaining direct entry as Technical Sergeants to build the Alcan Highway. Woody wants to enlist in the US Marine Corps to fight the Japanese rather than build another road. He changes his mind when he meets Ann, the daughter of one of the heads of the project, Blair, with the two brothers fighting over her as they build the highway. Their feud is forgotten when a fire breaks out. Cast *Richard Arlen as Woody Ormsby *Jean Parker as Ann Coswell *Ralph Sanford Ralph Dayton Sanford (May 21, 1899 – June 20, 1963) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 180 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tornado (film)
''Tornado'' is a 1943 film directed by William A. Berke and starring Chester Morris and Nancy Kelly. Plot Pete Ramsey (Morris) is a hard-working coal miner who falls in love with and marries scheming showgirl Victory Kane (Kelly). Victory presses Pete to fight for the position of the mine superintendent, which he earns. Still unwilling to bear her poor surroundings and unsatisfied with being a miner's wife, Victory decides to climb the social ladder by having an affair with the wealthy owner of the mine, Gary Linden (Conway), unbeknownst to her faithful husband. Suddenly, a ferocious tornado hits the town and the mine, putting everyone in danger. Cast *Chester Morris as Pete Ramsey *Nancy Kelly as Vactie Kane * William Henry as Bob Ramsey *Gwen Kenyon as Sally Vlochek *Joe Sawyer as Charlie Boswell * Marie McDonald as Diana Linden *Morgan Conway as Gary Linden *Nestor Paiva as Big Joe Vlochek Production The film was based on the unpublished novel ''Black Tornado'' by John Gued ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
High Explosive (film)
''High Explosive'' is a 1943 American drama film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Maxwell Shane and Howard J. Green for Pine-Thomas Productions. The film stars Chester Morris, Jean Parker, Barry Sullivan, Ralph Sanford, Rand Brooks and Dick Purcell. The film was released on March 27, 1943, by Paramount Pictures. Plot Cast *Chester Morris as Buzz Mitchell *Jean Parker as Connie Baker *Barry Sullivan as Mike Douglas *Ralph Sanford as Squinchy Andrews *Rand Brooks as Jimmy Baker *Dick Purcell as Dave *Barbara Lynn as Doris Lynch * Allan Bryon as Joe Production The film was based on a story by Joseph Hoffman, ''You Can't Live Forever''. Pine-Thomas Productions purchased it in April 1942 as a vehicle for Chester Morris. The film was also known as ''Nitro Trucks'' Howard Green wrote the script and Jean Parker was signed to costar. Filming started in August 1942. The film gave an early role to Barry Sullivan. It was retitled ''High Explosive'' by December 1942.SCREEN NEW ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aerial Gunner
''Aerial Gunner'' is a 1943 American black-and-white World War II propaganda film produced by William C. Thomas and William H. Pine, who also directed. The film stars Chester Morris, Richard Arlen, and Jimmy Lydon. This was the first feature film directed by Pine, who produced other films through his company, Pine-Thomas Productions. ''Aerial Gunner'' was distributed by Paramount Pictures. Plot Policeman Jon Davis (Richard Arlen) informs "Foxy" Pattis (Chester Morris) at his shooting range, shooting gallery, that his criminal father has died. Foxy blames all policemen, feeling they harassed him all his life and were responsible for his death. John Davis enlists and "Foxy" Pattis is drafted into the United States Army Air Forces where Foxy becomes the instructor at an aerial gunnery school. He makes life miserable for Jon, now a "Flying Sergeant" student, trying to force the former policeman to resign. Despite Foxy's hostility, Jon is able to pass the course. He later befriends a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Susan Hayward
Susan Hayward (born Edythe Marrenner; June 30, 1917 – March 14, 1975) was an American film actress, best known for her film portrayals of women that were based on true stories. After working as a fashion model for the Walter Thornton Model Agency, Hayward traveled to Hollywood in 1937 to audition for the role of Scarlett O'Hara. She secured a film contract and played several small supporting roles over the next few years. By the late 1940s, the quality of her film roles improved, and she achieved recognition for her dramatic abilities with the first of five Academy Award for Best Actress nominations for her performance as an alcoholic in ''Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman'' (1947). Hayward's success continued through the 1950s as she received nominations for '' My Foolish Heart'' (1949), '' With a Song in My Heart'' (1952), and ''I'll Cry Tomorrow'' (1955), winning the Academy Award for her portrayal of death row inmate Barbara Graham in ''I Want to Live!'' (1958). For her perf ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
A Letter From Bataan
''A Letter from Bataan'' is a 1942 "Victory Short" propaganda film made by Paramount Pictures in collaboration with the U.S. Office of War Information and the United States Government. It was directed by William H. Pine, produced by William C. Thomas and written by Maxwell Shane. It had music by Daniele Amfitheatrof and the cinematography was by Fred Jackman Jr. The film features Richard Arlen, Susan Hayward, Jimmy Lydon and Betty Hutton Betty Hutton (born Elizabeth June Thornburg; February 26, 1921 – March 11, 2007) was an American stage, film, and television actress, comedian, dancer, and singer. Early life and education Hutton was born Elizabeth June Thornburg on February 2 ... appearing as herself. The film is part of a series of films made by Paramount intended to encourage more active participation in the U.S. war effort. External links * * References American World War II propaganda films 1942 films Paramount Pictures short films American black-and- ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National Advocate
''The National Advocate'' was a daily newspaper published in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, between 1889 and 1963. Newspaper history The newspaper was established on 28 September 1889, co-founded by Australian businessman James Rutherford as a vehicle to put forward a protectionist viewpoint. The newspaper's board of directors included Francis Halliday who was at that time was president of the Bathurst National Protection League. The ''National Advocate'' had a reputation as the local mouthpiece of the Australian Labor Party, in contrast to the conservative-leaning '' Bathurst Times''. For many years its manager was John Percival, a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Percival was forced to resign in 1923 after being caught misusing company money. In 1920, federal Nationalist MP Archdale Parkhill brought a libel suit against the ''National Advocate''. He was awarded significant damages, which combined with legal fees cost the paper almost £7,00 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Variety (magazine)
''Variety'' is an American media company owned by Penske Media Corporation. The company was founded by Sime Silverman in New York City in 1905 as a weekly newspaper reporting on theater and vaudeville. In 1933 it added ''Daily Variety'', based in Los Angeles, to cover the motion-picture industry. ''Variety.com'' features entertainment news, reviews, box office results, cover stories, videos, photo galleries and features, plus a credits database, production charts and calendar, with archive content dating back to 1905. History Foundation ''Variety'' has been published since December 16, 1905, when it was launched by Sime Silverman as a weekly periodical covering theater and vaudeville with its headquarters in New York City. Silverman had been fired by ''The Morning Telegraph'' in 1905 for panning an act which had taken out an advert for $50. As a result, he decided to start his own publication "that ouldnot be influenced by advertising." With a loan of $1,500 from his father- ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
